The 3 - 6 - 12

A love letter to the most under-appreciated parents on the planet. Let’s talk about Mother’s Day when you have a tween. It’s 9am. You’re still in your pajamas, quietly hoping today will feel special. You’ve set the bar low — coffee, maybe brunch, a few hours together. Nothing elaborate. Just... chosen. Then your 12-year-old appears in the kitchen, phone already in hand, and announces — not asks, announces — that Zoe’s mom is out of town this weekend and could Zoe come over? O

I was at a friend's summer cocktail party last weekend. The host, an old friend, introduced me to her friend Laura, whose daughter is headed into middle school this fall. I cringe when friends introduce me as a parenting expert, especially at a social event. People like to talk about their kids and share what they're up to ... unless you're a "parenting expert". The minute that tidbit is known, people start avoiding me like I've got a contagious disease! So, I try to kee